6 Of The Weirdest And Strangest Things That Have Ever Happened In Arizona
By Monica Spencer|Published July 14, 2015
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
Sometimes, things happen that defy explanation. Ghosts appear, people stumble around lost, and strange things are seen. Arizonans have set their eyes on some pretty weird stuff over the years and here’s a look at a few of the more well-publicized events.
A legend exists that somewhere in the Superstition Mountains, a lost gold mine is hidden away within the treacherous range. Like many other settlers of the region at the time, Jacob Waltz (a German immigrant) was on a search for gold within Arizona Territory and allegedly came across a huge gold mine in the mountains. A map was apparently left describing the exact location of the mine but no one has seen the gold since Waltz’s death in 1891.
Although historians and geologists claim this story has no truth to it, the legend still incites people to attempt looking for the mine. However, because the Superstitions are a notably challenging hike, some people who engage in days-long hikes in search of the gold turn up dead, whether from dehydration and heat exhaustion or more sinister methods.
If you ever saw the movie "Fire in the Sky," you’re probably familiar with this event that allegedly happened in the Apache-Sitegreaves National Forest. In early November 1975, Travis Walton and his logging crew were returning to Snowflake from work when they saw a bright light and disk hovering near a hill. Walton exited the vehicle, ran towards the object, and disappeared for five days. Once he was found, Walton’s story about his abduction and his encounter with extraterrestrial life became well-known. However, there are inconsistencies with Walton’s stories which makes many wonder if the event actually happened.
On June 26, 1990, the afternoon temperatures in Phoenix reached a whopping 122℉, the highest temperature yet recorded for the city. Because of the high heat, incoming and outgoing flights were grounded for most of the day. While this has happened a few other times from severe storms or high heat (such as in June 2013), the impact wasn’t nearly as intense as it was this day.
4. Phoenix Lights, 1997
On March 13, 1997, thousands of people reported seeing strange lights moving across the state, ranging from Prescott and south towards Tucson. These five lights moved slowly, silently in a V formation, unlike the air traffic Phoenix is used to seeing and caused many to wonder what the UFOs were. While most people have described the event as “otherworldly,” including then-governor Fife Symington, others have attempted to explain the event as separate airplanes that happened to be flying near each other.
5. Landslide on the Navajo Nation, 2013
One of the oddest and most well-documented landslides happened along US 89, a highway south of Page that leads to Navajo Generating Station. ADOT confirmed this was an atypical event and most likely caused by a Triassic-era sandstone known as the Chinle formation.
Across the state, you’ll hear many stories from people alleging that certain roads and highways are haunted by the ghosts of people who died there or otherworldly beings. One of the most well-known is Highway 666, which has inspired movies, songs, and plenty of tales. Evidently, a large number of accidents have occurred on the highway, which has led people to believe it is haunted and call it "Devil’s Highway." Although the highway was renumbered in 2003, many people still refer to it as Highway 666.
What other weird events or sighting have you seen happen around the state that never made the news? Share your experiences with us in the comments.
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